83 gmc jimmy, the crust bucket

[Clark0943]

Hey everybody just bought this bad boy a few weeks ago and I've been going through all the mechanical aspects of it. but it will be time to start the bodywork soon and I'm looking to get opinions on where to start and how severe things look to you guys

 

[Phil513]

Wait, is the tailgate bondo'd shut?

 

[Clark0943]

Yeah the kid I bought it from paid a guy to do the floorboards and paint the truck, when he got it back it looked like it does now, it didn't have a tailgate before , and when it got back to him it had that shell tack welded and bondo in place, bits a real crap shoot. I have a rust free pickup tailgate from an 86 Chevy that's going on it, just have to buy the hardware

 

[Phil513]

Yeah the kid I bought it from paid a guy to do the floorboards and paint the truck, when he got it back it looked like it does now, it didn't have a tailgate before , and when it got back to him it had that shell tack welded and bondo in place, bits a real crap shoot. I have a rust free pickup tailgate from an 86 Chevy that's going on it, just have to buy the hardware

Ah, got it.

 

[JoshHefnerX]

Gotta say, looks like the floors are going to be a lot of work. Think all of the wheelwells rot in the same place - at that access panel Double check the floor behind them. The door striker is going to be a fun repair. Not sure why someone would permanently affix the tailgate like that, hopefully that's a quick job w/ the cutoff wheel.

 

[diesel4me]

I've seen more than one old K5 plow rig,with the tailgate welded shut in Dukes Of Hazard fashion,to beef up the flopping rear quarters ,and they put a camper shell rear hatch glass on it instead of using the power tailgate window,which usually fail up here more often than work thanks to rust and not getting used often enough..

 

[campfire]

This shot gave me a double take. 1983 diesel GMC, blue with Sierra Classic trim. Very similar to my K10. From the side it's obvious that yours is a darker blue than mine. But from this angle the brush bar is the largest difference.

 

[Clark0943]

Funny story the truck is that factory light gloss blue but the previous po paid a guy to do the above pictured bodywork, he also painted the truck ford tractor blue with tractor supply paint haha, once I get the body fixed and have the truck mechanically sound I'll re paint it, but that's far in the future

 

[RubberFloorMat]

honestly, id part it out and keep the good stuff then find a nice roller from someplace south. Thats WAAAY too much to deal with on such a common year. I dont even think id deal with that much on a 1st gen or a full vert 73-75.